Bike from Work Week: 5 WNC Breweries Support Bicycle Advocacy

National Bike to Work Week is May 16-20 and a handful of WNC breweries are hosting Bike from Work week. Enjoy a beer, support bicycle advocacy, and have your bike tuned at Wedge, HiWire, Highland, Wicked Weed and New Belgium Brewery on your way home from work. Proceeds from pint sales will be split between bicycle advocacy organization Asheville on Bikes and greenway non-profit Friends of Connect Buncombe. Each brewery will host an evening of bike-centric activities. On Friday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at New Belgium Brewery, the breweries will donate collective proceeds to the two non-profits.

On Monday, Wedge will donate a $1 from India Blonde Ale & Witbier and has invited The Tacoed Wheel, a mobile bike repair shop, to join in the evening. Wedge will show Breaking Away as their outdoor movie that evening, starting at dusk.

“We appreciate all the support the Asheville bike community has given the Wedge,” says Tim Schaller, co-owner of Wedge Brewing. “We are happy to have an opportunity to give a little back, and have some fun.”

Hi-Wire Brewing, in collaboration with Motion Makers Bicycle Shop, will be hosting the second day of Bike From Work Week at their Big Top location, 2 Huntsman Place. Hi-Wire will donate $1 from all full pour beers and will be discounting $1 off of their four flagship beers including the Hi-Wire Lager, Prime Time Session Pale, Hi-Pitch IPA, and Bed of Nails Brown. Food will be available from Foothills Local Meats, a permanent food truck at their Big Top location.

On Wednesday, Highland will donate $1 of every pint and Cane Creek Cycling Components will be on site from 5:00-8:00 p.m. offering free demos, swag and a raffle for Cane Creek Cycling Components 110-Series headset. Tin Can Pizzeria will serve up pizzas and Woody Wood will play from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Run club leaves at 6:15 p.m.

“Asheville’s future as a more connected city, by foot or pedal, is top of mind for me,” says Leah Ashburn, President, Highland Brewery. “Greenways benefit everyone and fit Asheville’s lifestyle. And, what if Asheville was the city where breweries built greenways?”

Wicked Weed will donate $1 of every pint of Freak of Nature Double IPA on Thursday, May 19.

“Beer and bikes have always been a wonderful pairing, and in Asheville bringing those two things together to help raise money for these incredible charities just makes sense,” says Luke Dickinson, head brewer and owner, Wicked Weed. “Drink a beer and make Asheville better, not a bad deal.”

On Friday, New Belgium will donate $1 of every pint. A small gift will be given to anyone who rides their bike. Tune ups will be available. At 6 p.m., the breweries will donate collective Bike from Work proceeds to the non-profits.

“We support Asheville becoming a better city for bicycling and what better way than to do that with beer and friends,” says Michael Craft, New Belgium VIPer Ambassador and national bicycle advocate. “We also support having fun, so come by the Liquid Center, enjoy a beverage and get a view of the City’s soon-to-open greenway while you sip a pint on our deck.”

About Asheville on Bikes

Asheville on Bikes cultivates the culture of commuter and urban riding through advocacy and celebration. They believe cycling has a direct impact on the health of our community.

“Success in Asheville is all about partnerships. It’s great to have so much support from the local breweries as well as partner with Friends of Connect Buncombe,” says Mike Sule, Director of Asheville on Bikes. “Advancing transportation options takes teamwork. I hope it inspires others to get involved and participate.”

About Friends of Connect Buncombe

Friends of Connect Buncombe is a collaborative organization that encourages and supports the implementation of city and county greenways/trails plans and the construction of greenways throughout Buncombe County through public awareness, community education and fundraising activities.

“Friends of Connect Buncombe is thrilled with the leadership and support that local breweries are providing to help implement the planned public greenway network that will connect people and places in Buncombe County,” says Suzanne Molloy, President of Friends of Connect Buncombe. “We look forward to a long-standing partnership through Bike from Work Week, Brewing for Greenways and other programs and events.”

About New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Fort Collins, Colorado. It opened in 1991 after Jeff Lebesch, the brewery's founder, took his homebrewing passion commercially. In 2011, it produced 712,800 barrels of its various labels. As of 2012, it was the third-largest craft brewery and eighth-largest overall brewery in the United States.

Fat Tire, an amber ale, is the company's flagship beer.

New Belgium will be opening the doors to their Asheville location located in the River Arts District in 2016.